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03 Aug 2015 5:49:08am

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In an address on this matter made in that earlier visit to the USA Pope Benedict XVI blamed the clergy sex-abuse cases on the breakdown of values in American society.

It was a typical piece of theological humbug. For much of this sexual molestation started many decades previously, when the USA was considered a perfect place to bring up children. That is according to all those TV shows of the 50s and 60s and The Readers Digest!. This was an escape, a way for the religiously inclined to pass the buck!.

And he and the other senior god botherers have either repeated that canard or implied such in these other cases around the world,

For Popes present and past, as CEOs of this organisation, have allowed its branch managers, the Bishops, Arch/Cardinal or otherwise to bluster about, cover up, demonise. ignore, sweep under carpet both justifiable accusations and the accusers. And it continues.

This organisation has a body within, now known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly as the Holy Office of the Inquisition.

A body that could be put to work to investigate any clergy responsible for sexual abuse, either by sins of commission or omission.

As a Cardinal, Ratzo the now current CEO, used to head this body, before getting the top job. His oversight, if he is to be honest and faithful to what he has said in his meeting with the victims, would ensure the cleansing of this particular Augean Stables.

In the US the Maciel case and the way it was handled or rather covered up was an egregious example of the way the previous CEO was able to have these matters suppressed. Ratzo does not come out smelling too sweet from this affair.

And it is the same in Ireland, Germany and many other countries.What is the saying about a fish rotting?

Those managers in this organisation appear to have misrepresented matters concerning these complaints to head office, responded in an ineffective way to complaints or refused to take complaints seriously. They have then proceeded to bluster, attack and demonise those who have the temerity to insist and continue with such complaints.

This in many cases by employing, in the US for sure, at great expense to the “faithful” high powered PR, or as I prefer to call the Public Lying firms, to cover up where possible and/or defend the indefensible.

It is then quite justifiable to hold these managers and their superior accountable for those sins of omission as well as those of commission.